Across Indonesia, leprosy remains a disease of inequality. Leprosy continues to affect thousands of people every year, with Indonesia reporting around 17 000 to 20 000 new cases annually, one of the highest totals in the world. Many cases are still found late, including among children, increasing the risk of lifelong disability. Distance, limited health services, weak reporting and stigma allow leprosy to persist.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has supported Indonesia to turn national commitments into practical action, starting from leadership and extending to frontline services. In Bali, political momentum was strengthened at the 2025 International Leprosy Congress, where mayors and regents from high-burden districts publicly committed to accelerate early detection, preventive treatment for close contacts, disability prevention and stigma reduction. These commitments were followed by high level-field visits to districts such as Sampang, Bekasi, Tangerang, Brebes and Jayapura, bringing national leaders, provincial authorities and partners directly to health workers and affected communities.
At the community level, WHO supported integrated activities that combined screening, prevention and education. Health teams worked through primary healthcare centres, schools and community health posts to check skin conditions, provide preventive medicine to close contacts and talk openly about leprosy. In five priority districts alone, more than 12 000 people were examined, allowing cases to be found earlier and treated before disability developed.
In Greater Papua, where the burden is highest, WHO focused on strengthening the foundations of care. Laboratory staff received practical training to correctly confirm leprosy cases. This makes diagnosis faster and safer, especially in remote areas. In addition, WHO and the Ministry of Health brought together provincial and district leaders to review data, improve reporting and agree on clear actions to reach communities that are hardest to serve.
A meeting involving provincial and district health leadership, programme focal points, and technical partners in Jayapura, Papua. In this meeting, WHO advocated utilizing local budget to fund multidrug administration activities. Credit: Ministry of Health, Indonesia
These efforts are beginning to change how services work and how communities respond. Better skills and clearer data help health workers find cases sooner and complete treatment. Community and school activities reduce fear and misinformation, encouraging families to seek care early.
As WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa reminded, fighting diseases need collaboration from all sides. “The Minister of Health alone cannot achieve Zero Leprosy. We need support from schools, which must take responsibility in identifying skin lesions among students. We also need the support of religious leaders, who will play an essential role in eliminating discrimination and stigma,” he said.
Next steps will focus on expanding proven approaches to more districts, strengthening reporting systems, supporting schools and community leaders, and continuing to improve laboratory and frontline capacity. With sustained commitment from national leaders to village level, Indonesia is steadily moving toward a future free from leprosy and discrimination.
This activity is supported by the Sasakawa Health Foundation.
Written by Maria Regina Christian, National Professional Officer for Tuberculosis, and Ajib Diptyanusa, National Consultant for Malaria and Vector-Borne Diseases, WHO Indonesia